Postdoctoral Researcher in Economics

Tiivistelmä työpaikkailmoituksesta: The University of Helsinki's Department of Economics and Management is hiring a two-year fixed-term Postdoctoral Researcher with a six-month trial period, ideally starting around January 2027 and based at the Viikki campus. The role is part of the NEXT project examining how inheritance and gift taxation shape intergenerational farm succession in Sweden and Finland, and involves building a harmonized Sweden–Finland empirical framework and conducting econometric analyses linking succession to farm outcomes. Applicants must have a PhD by the start date and strong training in econometrics and longitudinal methods, proven experience with administrative register or large-scale linked data, excellent English, and the role includes about 10–15% teaching. The salary is based on level 5 at the University of Helsinki with a personal performance component, with a typical starting salary of around €3,600–€3,800 per month, and the appointee is expected to reside in Finland. Tämä tiivistelmä on luotu tekoälyn avulla. The Department of Economics and Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, invites applications for a Postdoctoral position. The position is fixed term for two years with a six-month trial period and ideally starts around January 2027. The position is part of a new research project “Intergenerational Transitions in the Nordics (NEXT)” funded by Peter Wallenberg Foundation. The project is led by Professor Lucia Naldi at Jönköping University and Professor Pia Nilsson at the University of Helsinki. The research focuses on how institutional conditions, particularly inheritance and gift taxation, shape intergenerational farm succession and the subsequent development of farm businesses in Sweden and Finland. The postdoctoral researcher will be based at the University of Helsinki, Department of Economics and Management and the Agricultural Economics research group. The project studies how inheritance and gift taxation affect intergenerational ownership transitions and the consequences of these transitions for farm viability, investment, land-use continuity, and technological development. Sweden and Finland provide a highly relevant comparative setting: Sweden abolished inheritance and gift taxes in 2005, while Finland retains these taxes with relief mechanisms. The project uses this institutional contrast to examine the effects of transfer taxes on the timing of ownership transitions, the likelihood of within-family succession, and post succession outcomes. The research is based on harmonized longitudinal administrative register data from Sweden and Finland. The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the construction of the Sweden–Finland empirical framework and conduct econometric analyses of intergenerational ownership transitions. The work will include identifying and dating ownership transitions, classifying transfer modes, distinguishing within-family from non-family transfers, and linking succession events to economic outcomes. The successful candidate will contribute to the design and implementation of empirical research and prepare peer-reviewed journal articles aimed at publication in highly ranked international journals. The postdoctoral researcher will be based at the University of Helsinki and will be an active member of the Agricultural Economics group in the Department of Economics and Management. The position involves close collaboration with the project team at Jönköping International Business School and participation in joint research activities, including workshops and collaborative research. The successful candidate will benefit from a dynamic research environment and collaboration across agricultural economics, family business, ownership and governance, entrepreneurship, and applied microeconomics, with opportunities for both individual and collaborative research, acquisition of external research funds, and supervision of MSc and PhD students. We seek candidates who will have completed a PhD in economics, agricultural economics, or a closely related field, by the start of the position, preferably around January 2027. We are searching for a candidate with strong training in econometrics and longitudinal empirical methods. Experience working with administrative register data and/or large-scale linked individual-, owner-, property-, or firm-level data is a requirement for this research project. Experience with applied microeconomics, causal inference, event-study methods, or related longitudinal approaches will be considered an advantage. The work requires independent thinking, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to work effectively as part of an international research team. The postdoctoral researcher is expected to contribute actively to the development of the project’s empirical framework and research outputs, while also developing their own research agenda and leading publications. Excellent written a